https://www.youtube

.com/watch?v=vJoDpevPtR8

My campervan nightmare – Sub Zero + No Heat = No Sleep. Avoid my campervan mistake! Solo Female Van life. In this video, the last in this mini Scottish Borders road trip series, the storm’s blown over leaving a couple of days of fantastic autumn sunshine in its wake. First stop of the day after leaving the campsite is Leaderfoot Viaduct just 2.5 miles away. A significant landmark in the Borders. After that I randomly decide to go for a long drive to Scotland’s highest village and pub – The Inn at Wanlockhead. They allow you to stopover off grid for the night so long as you eat and drink there to give them some custom. So I cross over into Dumfries & Galloway and its a spectactular drive on the way, a driver’s dream when taking the B roads. The day had been great … then came the evening. As the chill set in I went to switch the diesel heater on. Dead. Dead as a Dodo. On what was forecast to be the coldest night of the year so far and in the highest village in Scotland, so this was not good. The leisure battery had dropped too low (despite the long drive) to allow me to use the electric heater. If only I’d had my EcoFlow Power Station that I now have! So I packed on the layers and thought once inside my snug sleeping bag I’d be ok. No, it was absolutely freeeeezing all night. Too cold to sleep and I realised how utterly reliant on the diesel heater I’d allowed myself to become. I was ill prepared with any form of back up, not even a hot water bottle! But I survived to tell the tale and share my learning. If you have any other tips to share please stick them in the comments. Sharing is caring! It might’ve been uncomfortable but next day I felt very ALIVE! Before heading home I took an aerial look at the village. Probably a good place for Spring and Summer when it will be more alive. Roll on the next trip. It’s all good fun, right? I love it 😊 ONWARD! If you watch and enjoy the videos PLEASE don’t forget to click ‘SUBSCRIBE’ it helps the channel to grow but costs you nothing at all. Just a click of the button. Thanks. 00:00 Intro & Recap 00:52 Leaderfoot Viaduct 03:30 Scenic drive 04:38 Mystery bird spot 04:48 Flooded Roads 05:13 Long & winding road – dream drive 05:53 Leadhills & Wenlockhead 07:14 Wenlockhead Inn 08:18 Nightmare night begins! 10:34 The morning after the night before 13:38 Aerial view of Wanlockhead in the sunshine 14:41 My learning & tips #Campervan #offgrid #solofemalevanlife ********************************* Connect with me on social media: Twitter – https://twitter.com/CamperVanya Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?… Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/campervanya/ *********************************** Music: Epidemic Sound *********************************** My van is a 2021 VW T6.1 Transporter Camper Conversion by The Custom Shop, Liverpool – https://www.thecustomshop.co.uk/ If you contact them, tell Ben I say “Hi!” *********************************** I’m Sue from Lancashire, UK. This channel is just me getting out and about in a converted VW Campervan, occasionally with friends but mostly solo. Fun, laughs, moans, groans, mistakes, and successes. It’ll all be in here! I’ll share new places, hints, tips, any info I discover and whatever else I think you might find useful. I began vlogging my solo travels in ‘Vanya’, to help me re-engage with life following the sudden, tragic loss of my husband nearly 3 years ago now. Working through a very complex grief has been the hardest & loneliest challenge imaginable. Some days it still knocks me completely sideways and probably always will. I really don’t know. All I do know is that life can change forever and irreversibly in an instant. By returning to the vanlife we had enjoyed so much together & embracing a new found love of video creation and vlogging, I’m continuing to build strength and balance to move forward through this completely unforeseen and unwanted next chapter of life. Thanks for joining me. The company is nice. Sue x

36 Replies to “CAMPERVAN OFF GRID NIGHTMARE – SUB ZERO + NO HEAT = NO SLEEP Avoid my mistake! SOLO FEMALE VAN LIFE”

  1. I watched this video last night and immediately had to go and watch from the start of your channel (on the Loch Ness video at the mo). I just want to say, how fantastic your videos are. You are true natural at vlogging. Your husband would be very proud of what you’re achieving by yourself. The way you always talk about him is so lovely. We get our new van in January, so I’m sitting here with paper and pen jotting down all the places you are going to lol. Im so happy I have found your channel. I hope you’re proud of what you’ve achieved so far and all the happiness your videos are bringing to others. all the best, and hope to see you on our new soon-to-be adventures.

    1. Thanks for such a supportive comment Chris. I’m glad you found the channel and enjoy the content, it’s been a steep but enjoyable learning curve and it means a lot to hear that the videos benefit others. I often wonder what Bri would make of it all, and imagine him grinning! Good luck with the new van I bet you can’t wait. If I can help with anything just give me a shout! All the best, Sue 😊👍

    2. What a lovely comment Chris. You are so right Sue’s way of vlogging is so natural and she is super entertaining to watch. Off to check your channel out after such nice words 👍

  2. Another brilliant instalment on the Scottish Borders, your certainly getting across the appeal of these places. Some exceptional drone footage throughout the video although your flying through the viaduct was a very skilled bit of manoeuvring. Some of those scenic off A roads looked a little hairy, I wasn’t seeing many passing places. Your van with the failed heater looked as cold as our apartment for the last 9 days. Thank goodness the weather has returned to normal today. The last thing we need in a heating crisis is extended snow, ice and sub sub zero temperatures! Some great tips at keeping warm at the end! Can just picture that little lead mining village in its hey day with the mine going and the miners going in and out of the pub maybe having raucous scuffles with biker gangs that were passing through, thats my imagination going now, guess you wasn’t the only one that would drift off at school! ❤ 🚐

    1. @CamperVanya (My Solo Van Life) just those drone shots of the village at the end, could just picture it full of comings and goings! 😂

  3. Helloooo lovely Sue, just watched this together on the big screen, what a great way to end your Scottish border series! That cheeky little stow away 🐝 Wow that viaduct was lovely and you was very daring with those awesome drone shots. Glad that Inn that was 65 miles away down that scenic but very narrow road, was open when you got there 🤭 -1 is cold but we have just had a week from hell in Scarbados where it hit -9 😳 you looked like you was wearing your sleeping bag that coat looks lovely and toastie! I did laugh when you got distracted telling us how you got distracted as a child 😂 l’d love to think Bri has YouTube in heaven so he can look over you and see your adventures. Stay awesome my lovely & Merry Christmas 🎄

    1. Oh what a lovely thought Bri watching YouTube up there. I’m sure he’ll be loving your channel too he did enjoy his walks with his mates. Sorry you’ve been frozen at home at least mine was just a night. Hope ur sorted now. I rang ahead for the pub hehe. Best wishes for a lovely Christmas & New Year ❤🎉 x

  4. Ive done this before the gas ran out in my heater in my motorhome,think it was -10 that night,have a merry xmas debs xx

    1. Hi Debs it’s a reminder how much we rely on heaters but all good fun. Hope you’re well and have a lovely Christmas and New Year xx

    1. Hiya I’m so glad you think so because I’m learning all the time. Thank you for watching 😊👍🏻

  5. Brilliant Sue. Loved the drone footage and wow you got that flock of birds. Blinking brrrrrr though. You made us shiver. Hope you have a brilliant Christmas xx

    1. Hi guys, thanks for watching. Those birds were fantastic, timed their entrance to perfection! Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. I look forward to seeing where next year takes you 😊 xx

    1. Thanks Rose I’m glad you like the channel content. I do enjoy creating the vlogs. All the best 😊👍🏻

  6. Fantastic drone footage, glad your safe and well and still enjoying your freedom ! Have an amazing Xmas 🤶, we packed ours up and are in France currently. Red kite for sure – they have so many up in D and G

    1. I’ve had red kite and kestrel suggested. I’m not good on my bird ID. Have a great Xmas in France and best wishes for 2023. 😊🎅🏻👍🏻

  7. On a note about using power in best way the more modern laptops will run from the centre usb on the River 2.
    I hope all is well with keeping warm.
    🤓

    1. Thanks Pottsy appreciate all the info you’ve given me on this. Have a lovely Christmas 😊👍

  8. Hello! Thanks For Sharing this Great Video
    Best wishes for a joyous Christmas filled with love, happiness and prosperity!
    Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2023
    Feel The World

  9. Hi Sue. More stunning scenery. Your bird was a falcon of some kind and almost certainly a kestrel. Lovely birds. Well done for surviving such a cold night with such good humor. Hope you get it sorted x

    1. Hi hope ur well. Gorgeous bird just sweeping in like that. The night was sooo cold but also a valuable learning experience! 😉

  10. you are a wonderful woman and you make great vids. gutted you lost your lovely husband. feel for you enormously. lost my first wife of 36 years 2005 3 months after i got prostate cancer. i am still here and remarried 6 years ago. life goes on. all the very very best ok

    1. Thanks John. That means a lot. I’m sorry for your own loss too but it’s uplifting to hear how life can get brighter again. All the best to you too 🙏🏻🙂

  11. Hi, Chelsea and Mike here. Lovely video you have. Very enjoyable. We are dreading the cold the most when we come back to the UK ❄️ we have liked and subscribed to your channel. Chelsea and Mike

    1. Hi thanks ms very much I’m glad you like the channel. All the best to you on your return to the uk! 😊👍🏻

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